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Beam Deflection In A Pulsed Chemical Laser Amplifier, J. Munch, Lee W. Casperson, E. C. Rea

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Analyses and experiments have been performed to investigate deflection of a Gaussian beam propagating through an amplifying medium possessing a strong transverse gain gradient. The analysis includes effects due to dispersion and gain steering. The experiments were performed in a high power pulsed chemical laser amplifier using a cw frequency stabilized laser as a source. Time dependent beam deflection due to the interaction of the gain gradient with the finite radius of curvature of the propagating beam was observed.